QUEST ION 3 WHS housekeeping encompasses all of the regular routines in the workplace that contribute to health safety. What do you think the key aspects of WHS housekeeping are for the counselling and community services that may not be as relevant to other fields?

Note: The following information from the self-care toolkit may be helpful http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/docswr/_assets/main/lib100056/managers_fact_sheet_01_stress_burnout.pdf House keeping is a critical issue when it comes to safety in the CSO workplaces. Too frequently hazards are intentionally overlooked due to the cultural mentality “that’s not my job” or ‘I didn’t do it – let someone else fix it” and “suck it up cupcake” etc. The reality is, slips, falls, cuts and stress related issues, is the result of poor House Keeping. In 2012, 192 people died in Australia due to work related accidents,

two of those people were in the social assistance industry. In 2009, female community and personal service workers accounted for the

second highest rate of injuries in the workplace. It is clear that people being killed; sustaining injuries or contracting diseases in the

work environment remains a critical issue. The Australian

Government strategy for 2012-2022 is to drive improvements in workplace health and safety in Australia, to ensure that all workers

have a safe and healthy working environment.( READING 1.) A key aspect of House Keeping in, “counselling and community

services” is actually minimising Work Space Stress, creating a relaxed and healthy work environment. This is achievable, by

creating a calm working area, Example: Mo has just been relocated into a new office. Compare to Mo’s

previous office situation the ergonomics aren’t right (the lights are too dim, the air is chilly, noise is unbearable high etc.) Mo’s new

office is located further from his place of residents, there often arrives feeling tired, stressed and irritable. This has a knock on

effect after a couple of weeks with co/workers and family etc., and work levels (KPI etc.) drop below acceptable levels.

To counteract these hazards, Mo talks to the HSR and Bro

(supervisor), after a success meeting strategies are put in place to manage these grievances. Mo workspace is well lit and inviting, the

air is warm and comfortable. Mo is now able to telecommute two days a week, and while Mo can still hear telephones and her

colleagues conversation in the office, (Mo listens to “white noise” through her headphones and is rarely interrupted by these sounds.)

If this above situation wasn’t rectify in the positive outcome, or simply ignored, then this environment would lead to contributing to

the Work Space Stress (WSS), which is detrimental to all concern. WSS is usually any physical conditions that the individual

concerned finds irritating, frustrating, uncomfortable or unpleasant. (i.e. poor lighting, background noise, chairs or desk (RSI),

overcrowding, climate control hot or cold, travelling time to job) It no benefit in saying “Suck it up cupcake”, as this will just

aggravates, and escalates the problem, invention and prevention is

a far better approach. As in the above example Mo had a meeting with his supervisor and HSR, to resolve his issues.

Although the concept of secondary traumatic stress is less than two decades old, there is a growing body of studies detailing the

existence of many different survivor groups. For example, counsellors with high domestic violence caseloads have been

shown to have classical symptoms of vicarious traumatization. Specific challenges of this kind of work included difficulties with

confidentiality, fear for the safety of their clients, and feelings of isolation and powerlessness (Iliffe & Steed, 2000).

A formal definition of vicarious trauma, developed by Pearlman and Saakvitne (1995) is as follows: “The inner transformation that

occurs in the inner experience of the therapist (or other professional) that comes about as a result of empathic engagement

with client’s trauma material”. Vicarious traumatization is a term that describes the cumulative

transformative effect on the helper of working with survivors of

traumatic life events. The symptoms can appear much like those of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but also encompass changes

in frame of reference, identity, and sense of safety, ability to trust, self-esteem, intimacy, and a sense of control. The presence of

vicarious traumatization has been noted in many groups of helping professionals who have close contact with people who have

experienced traumatic events. Caregivers are at even higher risk if they have a history of trauma in their own backgrounds and if they

extend themselves beyond the boundaries of good self-care or professional conduct. (Sandra L. Bloom, M.D.)

Working with victims of violence and interpersonal trauma is so difficult because it changes caregivers who are willing to listen.

Confrontation with the magnitude of interpersonal violence shatters our own protective assumptions as we let in the reality of “It really

happened.” As we wrestle with this reality, we come to recognize that “It could happen to me” and feel all the vulnerability that goes

along with that recognition. For some, their own past history of interpersonal violence or child abuse is a personal reality because

“It did happen to me” and all the unwanted reminders of an unresolved past are triggered by the patients’ stories. The recurring

sense of helplessness that victims feel may also impact the helpers,

bringing with it a sense of hopelessness, expressed as “There’s nothing I can do.”

The following statement below, might be irrelevant to the average aspirant out there, but it’s the Community Sector Workers that have

the overall responsibility in dealing with a majority of these incidents in one way or another (Individual seeking financial assistance,

counselling etc.) as a result of death or injury. Therefore the emotional and psychological strain on the CSW and their families

can be quite significant as well. That is why the aspects in “WHS housekeeping are for the counselling and community services that may not be as relevant to other fields” and special measures of care incorporate into their WHS policies. EXAMPLE: The term “self-care” spans a full range of issues: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. Some conceptualise this construct by considering the dimensions of mind, body, and spirit, or in terms of thinking, feeling, and behaving. It is referred to as “wellness”, a “healthy balance”, “resilience”, and simply, mental health. It is important to note, though, that no matter how one breaks down the dimensions of self-care, in the end, all of these different aspects are interconnected. Failure to take care of oneself in one realm can lead to consequences in another.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s January 2012 white paper, “Injury and Illness Prevention Programs,” cites some

interesting statistics.

Every day, more than 12 workers die on the job — that’s more than 4,500 per year.1

Every year, more than 4.1 million suffer serious job-related injury or illness.1

You can learn more about disability-related costs in one of my other blog posts, “The dollars of disability.”

Admittedly, such national numbers may not seem relevant to you. Perhaps you work for a small or medium-sized company. But if you

are in risk, safety or HR, think of how much time and how many resources you and your organization spend on workers’

compensation claims. Just think how stressful it is on you and your team when a colleague is suddenly away from work for an

undetermined period of time. - See more at: http://workplacepossibilities.com/blog/7-ways-to-

build-a-safety-culture/#sthash.ZLHVOydd.dpuf

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